Im a little confused!! about lvn-rn-bsn-master's-then to Physican assistant.

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Apr 30, 2012

Physician's Assistant is a medical model trained mid level practitioner.

A nurse practitioner is a mid level practitioner trained in the nursing model of care.

Depending on the specialty there is little difference in scope of practic between a primary care APN (masters or clinical doctorate level nurse) or PA (majority are masters programs 2-3 yrs in length). Certain specialties have more APNs such as woman's ihealth/OB, pediatrics. Some areas surgical specialties use PAs while other areas of the country use APNs.

Generally speaking ASN is 2-3 years depending on the program & per-requisites usually completed in a community or junior college setting

RN to BSN is usually 2 years full time at a 4 year college or university. MSN can lead to a variety of specialties clinical nurse specialist, nurse practitioner, clinical nurse educator, IT/nursing informatics, certified nurse midwife. It's generally about 2-3 years graduate degree completed a university. . Some schools offer a graduate doctoral degree (DNP, DNS, EdD, PhD)

I believe there are one or two bachelor level PA programs in the US oat are masters degrees that last 2-3 years depending on the program. Most people aiming for a PA program do not choose nursing as their undergraduate degree; they often have a BS/BA degree in a science area such as biology or health.

NICUmiiki, DNP, NP · Apr 30, 2012

If you want to be a PA, you don't need nursing at all. You definitely don't need a masters in nursing. I'm guessing that the Master's program you're talking about is a practioner one. I really really don't recommend becoming an APN in order to become a PA. I don't really recommend becoming a nurse at all if you want to be a PA. Pa programs (mostly) require a bachelors (in anything) and certain prereqs. You should talk to a counselor at the school. They can answer your questions and help lay out a path.

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Apr 30, 2012

Also, LPN is a vocational level diploma completed in 10-18 months. Graduates are awarded a diploma or certificate then are eligible for licensure as an LPN. Some people choose to do LPN then bridge to an RN (associates degree) usually this swipes 1-2 semesters of the ASN program then are eligible for licensure as an RN.

PA is not a step in the nursing education hierarchy so if you want to be come a PA save time and work on a bachelor's in a health or science degree.

If you want to ultimately become a APN or CNS then go the nursing route.

Jessica5792 · Apr 30, 2012

So guys you are saying that I don't need nursing to become a pa at all??? So what about experience and hands on training when I finish the pa program? Like apply for pa jobs they are gonna say we require 1-3 yrs of pa experience or acute medical experience. ALSO GUYS MY MAIN QUESTION HERE IS IF!!! IF DONT NEED NURSING THEN WHAT DO I MAJOR IN WHEN TRYING TO GET A BS WHEN TRYING TO GET TO USC PA 4 YEAR PROGRAM....

Shorty11, BSN, RN · Apr 30, 2012

My sister is a PA. She first got a Bachelor of Science in biology with a minor in chemistry. Graduated with a 3.75. She then applied to a PA school and graduated with a PA Masters Degree. She then had to do a one year residency after graduation. It took her 9 years from start to finish to become a PA. You don't need nursing at all... If you want to become a nurse practioner, then I would recommend you do the BSN route and then go for an MSN-NP. Which would probably take about 8 years total too, as long as you didn't fail anything.

Jessica5792 · Apr 30, 2012

I thought you didn't have to do residency working your way up to pa. Also it took 9 years wow I thought it would only take 5 years??

NICUmiiki, DNP, NP · Apr 30, 2012

It depends on who hires you. If they are asking for experience, they probably don't want RN experience. Just like Lpn experience doesn't count for getting a job as an RN for a lot of HR recruiters.

But you can think of PA school more like medical school. Get a BS in the sciences.

You don't know if you'll get accepted right away into a PA school; they're quite competitive. Getting you're BS will take around 4 years, 6monthes to a year before you start PA school, then 2 years of PA school will cost you at least 7 years.

Becoming a full fledged doctor will take you between 11-15 years.

leenak · Apr 30, 2012

Well a BS takes 4 years. The PA schools I've seen take between 2-3 but they also require healthcare experience of some sort. And then youd do a residency for a PA. So either NP or PA, you are looking at a minimum of 6 years schooling but then there are other things that could result in taking more years than that to actually become a PA or a NP.

Shorty11, BSN, RN · Apr 30, 2012

A BS takes 4 years, possibly 5 if you fail anything. Most PA schools are 3 years. Some have mandatory one year residency afterwards, some don't. I would expect that it would take at least 7 years from start to finish.

Jessica5792 · May 1, 2012

omg im starting to rethink this career lmao I mean im not looking for anything like ok in three months u will be become a doctor but 7 years without a job is tough

leenak · May 1, 2012

If you really, really want to become a PA, then you might want to consider a quicker entry position into healthcare. MA, CNA, LVN, EMT, etc. Then get a job while getting your BS. It'll take you longer to get the BS but that is ok. You'd want to save for PA school the best you can too because they will most likely want you to not work while in the 2-3 years of the program.